Carpet stretcher



Sept. 19, 1944.A Y J, D. BARTLOW CARI-ETv STRETCHER Filed May 1B, 194s 2 Sheets-Shee't 1 J. D. BARTLOW sept@ 19, 1944.

CARPET STRETCHER ,y

.s 77A/ @f7 BY Filed 'May 18, 1943 Patented Sept. 19, 1944 UNITED STATE oARPEm sTREITcHER Justin D. Bartlow, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Jesse C. Owens Application May 1s, 1943, sel-iai No. 487,480

11, claims. v(o1- 2554-62) My invention relates to Vcarpet stretchers of the particular type covered by U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,766,423 issued to me June 24, 1930; also Letters Patent No. 2,108,506 issued to John C.

Owens, February 15, 1938, also Patent No. 2,326,`

117 issued to me Augustk 10, 1943, of which, this application is a continuation in part.

The principal objects of my invention are, to

disclosed in the aforesaid patents, to provide improved means forimparting forward movement to the carpet engaging head of the device during stretching operations, to provide simple and efficient means for maintaining the body of the stretcher in extended position to facilitate the stretching and tacking operations and further, to provide simple and eicient means for releasably connecting the telescoping parts ofthe body of the stretcher.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a carpet stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention, with the head that carries the carpet engaging prongs in horizontal section.

Fig. 2 is Ia side elevational View of the stretcher with the head in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4'-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a sliding pivot block used in themain frame of the stretcher.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l and showing the telescopic member latching means.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectiontaken on the line 'I-'l of Fig. 1. f

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a modified form of the stretcher with parts at the endsbroken away.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. n

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line III-I0 of Fig. 9. y

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section of the telescopic members and showing a latch therefor.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section showin-g a modii'led form of the latch for the telescopic members.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section showing a further modied form of the latch.

, drawings, particularly the construction illustrated4 -generally improve andsimplifyfthe constructions Referring by numerals to the accompanying in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive,j Ill designates a tube which may be .of any desired and `convenient length, and arranged to telescope said tube is a slightly smaller tube II, to the outer end of which is connected by verticalpivot I2 a block I3 that is adapted to bear against the base board or wall of the room in which the carpet stretcher is used. x

To maintain the tubes IIJ and II in.V their different telescopic adjustments, ya U-shaped spring is positioned within the smaller `tube II and projecting in opposite directions .from the ends of the legs of said spring are studs Illa which pass through apertures I Ia in tube II kand the projecting portions of said studs are adapted to enter apertures IllbV that are formed in the outer tube I0. y

The apertures Ib are countersunk in order that the projecting ends of the studs Illa may beY readily engaged and pressed inwardly by the thumb and finger so as to enable the tubes to be moved longitudinallyindependently of each other. H f

The forward end of tube I0 is secured in any suitable manner to a lug I4 that is formed. on the rear end of a frame that comprises a pair of parallel channel bars I5 arranged withvtheir flanges inwardly .presented and the rear ends of said channel bars being integrally connected by a cross piece I6.

the channel bars I5.

.Arranged for sliding movement against the innerY faces of the webs of the channel bars I5 between the flanges thereof are parallel bars I8 and the forward ends of. these bars .are rigidly connected to the main body or vhousing I9 of a head, which housing is substantially rectangular in form and provided with an open bottom.

Arranged to slide freely lengthwise between those portions ofthe Vbars rI8 -that extend into the frame comprising the channels I5 and supported by the inner portions of the lower flanges on said channel bars I5 is a block 20, the forward portion of which is provided with a vertically disposed slot 2|.

slot 2I are ears 22 provided with apertures 23.

Passing through the apertures 23 is a transversely disposed pin or bolt 24 and mounted on the ends thereof that project beyond the ears 22 ars rollers 25 that bear 'on the upper surfaces of the channel bars I5.

A cross piece I1 is formed inv tegral with .and connects theforward portions of Projecting upwardlyy from the l forward portions of the walls to the sides of Pivotally connected by means` of a pin 3B to lever 26 .a short distance rearwardly from the I5 and having their rear ends pivotally conwall adjacent the edge of the carpet that has 'been secured to the floor and with the head of the f stretcher, the housing I9, positioned on top of the carpet adjacent the wall opposite the wall against which block I3 is positioned.

Before beginning the-stretching operation, the hand lever 21 is swung upwardly and forwardly into a substantially vertical position as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and under such conditions the head of the stretcher is positioned immediately adjacent the forward end of the frame comprising the channel bars I5, and the links -28 and 3I occupy positions as illustrated by dotted fulcrurn 24 are the forward ends of parallel links 'lines in Fig. 2.

If the carpet that is |being laid is thick or has a heavy nap, then the shaft 35 is rotated so that nected to a transversely disposed pin 32 that isl seated in the rear portions of `said channel bars.

Arranged for vertical movement within housing I9 is a plate 33 in which is seated the upper ends of a series of downwardly and forwardly projecting`v prongs f34.that are 'adapted to engage through th-e action of the slots 42 and pins 44 within the housing I9 so that the prongs 34 will however, the carpet is comparatively thin or of the carpet that'is being stretched by the device,

and extending lengthwise through the center of the housing above this plate 33 is a shaft 35, the ends thereof-being mounted for` rotation in bearings formed in the end walls of housing I9.

One end of this shaft 35 is enlarged in diameter asdesignatedby 36 and a tubular bearing 31 on the end wall of the housing surrounds thisenlarged portioni.' y 5 f Arranged for sliding movement in the enlargedA end portion 36 vof the shaft Ais a diametrically arranged spring pressed pin .38, the outer end of which-is adapted to enter anyon-e of a series of apertures 391 that are formed through the wall of the bearing 31, thus maintaining the shaft 35- at different-points in its rotation.

The apertures 39- in the bearing 31 are countersunkin order that-the end of theY pin maybe engaged and pressed inward when it is desired to partially rotate and adjust the position of shaftl ferentially of the bearing.

Formed in therouter end of the enlarged'end portion 36 of the sha'ftis a slot y4I) for the reception of a screw driver or suitable tool used in im'- 35. The`apertures'39 are spaced apart circumparting rotaryprnotion to the shaft. y

Secured to Vshafty 35 within housing I9 adjacent theends thereof vare eccentricA discs4l and formed in each disc isan arcuate slot 42 that extends from a point near the edge of the disc to a point near the axis thereof, the shaft 35, and secured' springs 4S, the` lower upturnedends of which*V bear directly upon the upper surface of the prongcarrying plate 33.50' as to yieldingly ,oppose the upward movement thereofj into the housing I9, and'such action cooperating with the connection between the discs 4i and plate 33 in ymaintaining the latter at different elevations.

507Vresult of those movements the bars I8 carrying In the operation .of the form of carpet stretcher Y the block I3 bearing againsttlflel base board or '1liV secured to the floor.

medium thickness, then the shaft 35 is rotated so as to partially or fully elevate the prongcarrying plate 33, as the case may be, thus varying'the distance that the points of the prongs lscopically adjusted so as to position the head of `rcarpet a short distance inwardly from vthe free edge thereof, the operatorswings-handle 21 from its vertical position rearwardly and downwardly to the position shown by'solid lines in Fig. 2, which action swings theforward portions of the L links 3 I into a position between' the parallel members `I5 of the frame,"and the link 28 that is connected to the forward end of the handle and to the bars I8 will be Vswung upward into the' position shown by solid lines in Fig.'2., and as a the head of the stretcher will be moved forwardly from the forward ends of the frame comprising the parallel bars I5 and thereby correspondingly stretch or move the carpet from the edge that is 'The operations just described, namely, the longitudinal adjustment of the tubes Il] and I I and the retraction and subsequent forward projection of the head of the stretcher by manipulation of the handle 21, are repeated until the carpet has been properly stretched and the free edge thereof is brought into position adjacent the base board of the Vwall oppositeY the wall against which rblock I3 bears and the free edge of the carpet may now be secured to the floor in the usual manner.

It is to be noted that the pivot 32 between the rear ends of the links 3| and the frame of the stretcher and the pivot 29 between the forward end of link 28 and the bars I 8, occupy a horizontal position wholly below the axis 24 of handle 23 andlikewise below the pivotal connection 30 and the point of pivotal connection `betl/eerl link 38 and the forward end of lever 26 thatY forms lapart'of'the handle, andas a position to another, block-26that providesa iul..

crum for the handle slides freely betweenk the rear portions of bars |8 and the .rollers 25 carried by the endsv of fulcrum pin 24A roll on top of the upper flanges of the channel bars I5, thereby materially-reducing friction ofthe cooperating parts while in' action.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figs.

8 to 13 inclusive, a pair of channel bars 5|] are securedto and project rearwardly' from the prong. carrying head Jand arranged-to slide freely through a, bearing 52, formed between said bars is a tube 53. This tube 53 is theouter one of two or more telescopically associated tubes, practically identical with the telescopic tubes l0, H, l2 and I3 showninmy Patent No. 1,766,423 and Vthe inner one. ofthe tubes in the present case,

carrying at its outer end a block (not shown similar to block |1 in said patent.

Numeral 54 designates a. tube which is arranged to slide within tube`53. V.These telescopic tubes may be latched to each other after relative longitudinal adjustment in various ways, for instance, by means of pins 55 lcarried on the ends of a bow spring 56, the latter lpositioned in tube 54 and which pins engage in apertures formed in the tubes. These apertures may be lined with rings or collars 51 preferably of hard wear resisting metal (see Fig. 11), such construction being especially desirable where the tubes are formed of plastics or composition.

In Fig. 12, the telescopic. tubes 58 and 59 are shown as being substantially oval in cross section and provided on top with upstanding flanges 60.

Arranged within the inner tube 59 is a transversely disposed spring pressed extensible latch pin 6I, the ends ofwhich are adapted to engage in coinciding apertures formed in the sides of the tubes.

In Fig. 13 the latch consists of a disc 62 having bearings in the outer tube 63 and extending through slots in the inner tube 64, and formed tin said disc are oppositely arranged arcuate slots 65.

Passing through said slots are lpins 66 seated in the inner ends of pins 61, and the latter being adapted to engage in coinciding apertures formed in the tubes and said apertures being reinforced with hard metal rings 68.

A bow spring 69 has its ends seated in pins 61 so as to yieldingly resist inward movement of said pins.

Arranged to move freely between th-e forward portions of the channel bars 50 is a fulcrum block and mounted for operation in anti-friction bearings 14 therein, are the axes 12 of rollers 13 which bear on the lower flanges of the bars 56.

Block 10 is provided with ducts 14a whereby the axes 13 may be lubricated.

Projecting upwardly from one end of block 16 are ears 15 in which is seated a pin 16 providing a fulcrum for` a hand rlever 11, which occupies a lengthwise position above the bars 50.

The forward end of lever 11 which extends a short distance forwardly of fulcrum 16 is connected to body 5I by a link 18. The rear end of llink. 18. is connected byV a' pivot pin 80 to the forwardA end of tube. 53 and the forward end of' said link f is pivotally connected to Vlever 11a.

short distance tothe rear'of fulcrum 16. When hand lever 11 occupies its lowermost position against the bars -50as seen in Fig. 9, the axis of pin 8| is past centerv orashort distance. below the plane occupied by' the pivotplins 16 andv 8|land thus. the stretchery is practically locked against. retractionuntil the handle is raisedV a. sufficient distance to position pin 8| abovethe plane occupiedby pins` 16 and 80.y

`Fulcrum block moves freelyforwardly or rearwardly to-accommodate itself to the movements Y and positions of.v hand lever 11v and when said lever is drawn upwardly, the prong-carryinghead 5| vand bars 5|l-willfbe drawn 'rearwardly vand at the same time, tube '53' will be drawn forwardly, or if theblock on-the rear end ofA the telescopic tubes is held against a wall;.the channel bars 50 and head 5| will move a considerable distance rearwardly on the forwalrdportion of tube 53.

Runners 82 are positioned on the under sides ofi'bars 50, to the rear of head 5|, rthus enabling said head and bars tolslide freely on the carpet and provide aV guard to prevent the 'connected ends of. hand. lever` 11` andlink 18 from` contactingA the carpet during 'stretchingoperations Thus it will be seen that'I have provided a carpet stretcher which is simple in structure, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and constructiony of the various parts of my improved carpet stretcher may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the-scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a carpet stretcher, a frame, an extensible member connected to one end of the frame, a housing mounted on the opposite end of said frame, a prong carrying member within said housing, adjustable means within said housingV cent said frame and extensible member.

2. A carpet stretcher as set forth in claim 1 and with anti-friction rollers carried by said handle and bearing on top of said frame.

3. In a carpet stretcher, a frame, an extensible member connected to one end of said frame, a housing mounted on the opposite end of said frame, a prong carrying member within said housing, adjustable means within said housing for regulating the effective length of the prongs carried by said member, a handle having a fulcrum on said frame, links having their inner ends pivotally connected to said handle on opposite sides of its fulcrum and the outer ends of said links being pivotally connected respectively to said frame and said housing in a horizontal plane below that occupied by the fulcrum of the handle.

4. A carpet stretcher as set forth in claim 3 and with anti-friction rollers carried by said handle and bearing on said frame.

5.f In a carpet stretcher, a frameyan extensible member ,connectedtoone' end of saidl frame; aV

housing mounted -on theA opposite endof` said frame, a prong carrying membervwithin said:

said handle on opposite sidesyof said sliding fulcrumi and the Vouter ends ofsaid links being pivotally connected respectively to said frame and housing in a horizontal plane belowV that occu-v pied by the fulcrum of the handle.

16. A carpety stretcher as set forth in claim f and lwith rollers carried by-.said sliding fulcru and arranged to bear on said frame. 5 7- Ina' Carpet stretcher; the combination withl an extensible member and manually operable means for imparting extensible movement thereto, I ofv a housing carried by the forward end of saidf member, a, prong carrying plate arranged for vertical movement within said housing; 'a shaft passing through said housing above the prong carrying member, eccentric discs carried by said shaft, pin and slotA connections between Vsaid prong carrying member and said` discs and means Withinthe housing foryieldingly'resisting the upward movement of the prong carrying member therein.` Y f 8. In 'a carpetstretcher, the combination asvv l set forth in claim 7and'with means for securing said shaft at different points in its rotation.

9. Ina carpet stretcher, a frame, an extensible member having one end arranged for sliding movement in said frame, a prong carrying head' on the forward end of said frame, ablock arranged for sliding movement in said frame, antifriction means between said block and frame, a hand leverzfulcrumed on said block and links pivotally connecting' said handv lever with said head and with said extensible member.-

10. A carpet stretcher' asset forth in'clai'm `9" andthe point of pivotal connection between said extensible member and thelink connecting same to said lever and the fulcrum of'said lever occupying a planeabove that occupied by the pivotal point between said leverrand the link'which connectsv same tothe extensible member, said lever isat the lower end of its travel;

11'. A Vcarpet stretcherfas set forth in claim 9 when and with a runner on the under side of said frame to the rear of said prong carryingh'ead.

JUSTIN D. BARTLOW. 

